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I hung up the phone and buried my face into my hands. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go, I thought to myself. I looked around the kitchen, my body fully exhausted at the news that had been just handed to me. I just needed to make it through today, I thought.
“Sorry I couldn’t get the phone, Brooke,” Melinda said, coming in for the second set of already finished trays. She hadn’t looked my way, or I knew she’d have stopped and come over to me, and for that I was grateful because I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep myself together.
I made my way back into my office, grabbing the schedule off the wall. We were down two staff members per day until after the new year. There was no way I could leave. I glanced at the Baking Crate order cue and noticed a huge increase in online orders for next week. I’d just pinned the schedule back up when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I dug in and pulled it out to see a text from my father letting me know that the doctors weren’t going to let her travel.
I dropped my phone on my desk and slammed my door shut. I’d have to go to Paris. I’d also have to close for the remainder of the year, I realized. Most of my staff had family plans, and there was no way I was going to ask them to cancel now. I wasn’t going to ruin their holidays because of me. I got up from the chair, wiped my eyes, and went back to work. Focusing on whatever task was in front of me always proved to be my best coping strategy. As soon as the doors were closed, I planned to have a meeting with my staff.
Tristan
December 25
I’d finally finished packing, and I sat at the small table in my kitchen. The apartment echoed with every move I made. I cracked open the plastic container that held the rotisserie chicken I’d ordered from the restaurant around the corner and dug my plastic fork into it. I’d spent numerous Christmases alone over the past few years, and it had never bothered me, but this year was different.
I’d thought about trying to call my brother. It had been a few years since we’d last spoken. Every year after Mom and Dad had passed, I’d joined him and his family for the holidays. At the time, it had been more of a pain in the ass to lug my bags over to his house and have his kids crawl all over me with their sticky hands. I still remembered the first Christmas I’d spent after our falling out. It was a pleasure not to have to get up early. It was also a pleasure to get to finally have a quiet meal. Only now as I sat here, after spending all that time in Willow Valley, surrounded by people, I was actually lonely.
I glanced out the window and looked across into one of the windows in the other building. A family gathered around the dinner table, smiling as they shared conversation and a meal. I looked down to my dinner and shook my head. I truly was all alone.
I glanced down at my watch. My brother would probably just be sitting down to dinner, I thought. I picked up my cell phone and scrolled to his number and dialed. The phone rang and rang, but no one answered. I hung up and stared down at the number. No doubt he was probably ignoring me.
I was about to pick it up again and dial, when it rang.
“Hello,” I answered between bites.
“Tristan, Merry Christmas,” I heard a familiar voice say.
“Fred?” I questioned.
“Hope I’m not interrupting and that you aren’t busy with family, but I wanted to call and let you know I was thinking of you.”
I smiled. “Well, Merry Christmas, Fred. How’s things out there in Willow Valley?” I asked, hoping he would mention something about Brooke.
“Oh you know, pretty snowy. We got hit with a bad storm a couple days ago.”
“Is that so? How’s Brooke doing?” I asked, I couldn’t wait any longer.
“She’s managing.”
I frowned. I could only imagine how busy she’d been. Although I was sure she would be closed for today. Yet I didn’t like the sound of his voice. It was as if he wanted to say more but wasn’t sure he should.
“How’s her ankle?”
“Her ankle is getting better every day. She’s a stubborn one, you know that.”
I chuckled. Fred was right, she was a stubborn one.
“She sure could have used your help, let me tell you. I felt bad for her last night. She was rushing around like a mad woman. Orders weren’t ready to be shipped, but don’t worry, I made her sit down and take a break,” Fred said.
“That’s good,” I mumbled, thinking back to her letter. Had I been there, this past week wouldn’t have been a struggle. “Thank you for caring enough to make her sit down.”
“Ah, it was nothing. I just wanted her to stop crying for a few minutes. She was so stressed. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her that bad. Perhaps you could call her. Might lift her spirits a little.”
Crying? Why had she been crying, I wondered. “Did you figure out why she was crying?” I questioned.
“She just said something had come up that upset her and she didn’t want to talk about it. I didn’t want to pry, so I left it alone.”
I went quiet, thinking back to her letter. Was she upset I hadn’t responded? “I dunno, Fred, I doubt a call from me would help any. We didn’t end on the best of terms. Besides, she’s probably having Christmas dinner with family.”
“Nah, she declined everyone’s invite. We invited her, Thomas and Trinity invited her to join them and Peggy, she even had an open invite from Harry and Bessy to come and join them. They put on a big feast for all guests at the inn. She declined everyone.”
